Robert Kniesche: A life devoted to Baltimore and photography
The Baltimore Sun newspaper has a rich history of photojournalism. Since publishing its first photograph on September 30, 1901 The Sun has employed a long line of award winning photographers. To pay tribute to these photographers, The Darkroom will periodically take a look back at the body of work by some of these photographers whose love of their craft helped document the lives of people from the backstreets of Baltimore to the four corners of the globe.
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- A royal visit in 1941 by the Duchess of Windsor, center and Duke of Windsor. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- In October of 1960 at a Colts game George Preasis, #60, blocks Ed Meador, Ram defensive halfback, right, to help the Colts’ Lenny Moore, #24, around right end in the scoreless first period. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- A working oyster boat out on the Chesapeake Bay. The photograph was published in December of 1967. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- A daytime scenic of the bridge in Ellicott City taken in 1963. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- In this November 1950 picture Kniesche show a nighttime picture of the 3400 block of Eastern Avenue looking west in Highlandtown. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- In November of 1933 guardsmen escort lynching suspects from the Salisbury Armory bound for Baltimore City Jail. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- H. L. Mencken at home, in April of 1942 walking under grape arbor in his garden that he built. Mencken was a favorite subject of Kniesche. He took a number of portraits of the famous scribe. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- In October of 1963 Number 8 street cars still were a familiar sight in Towson. But soon they would be replaced by buses. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- The Sparrows Point Shipbuilding division of the Bethlehem Steel Co. in 1940. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- An aerial view of what is now considered the Inner Harbor shot October 20, 1948. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- In June of 1968 Children enjoy a fountain on Park Avenue. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- In April of 1957 President Eisenhower throws out the first pitch at opening day baseball game as Managers Chuck Dressen (Washington) and Paul Richards (Orioles) watch. The Baltimore Orioles vs. Washington Senators. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- A picture of what was at the time known as the O’Sullivan building taken from Redwood and Charles Street. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- The guns of Fort Carroll which are replicas of the guns used at the fortress when it was built. They were built at a foundry that was expressly made to forge the guns. Photo dated 10/04/1961. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- Harry S Truman addressing the crowd at a train stop in Baltimore in June of 1948. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- A photograph of a dairy farm located on Seminary Road takenn in June of 1963. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- Aerial view of the Jones Fall Expressway interchange under construction in August of 1961. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
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- A workman in the blast furnace at Bethlehem Steel Co in October, 1951. (Robert F. Kniesche/Baltimore Sun)
One such photographer was Robert F. Knieche (1906-1976) who was a member of The Baltimore Sun photo staff for 41 years and for many years was the photo director. Knieche was born in Baltimore and began working at The Baltimore Sun in the 1920’s.
In the 1930’s, he recognized the value of aerial photography as a news gather tool and often took aerial photographs himself. He served during World War II in the United States Navy. In 1947 he helped set up the photo department at WMAR-TV, which was owned by The Baltimore Sun. He was also a charter member of the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA).
Knieche’s won numerous awards and has had his work displayed at the Peal Museum, the Baltimore Museum of Art and several universities.
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